2016-02-02 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     2 FEBRUARY 2016


3                        WATERWAYS MONITORING IN THE NOOSA SHIRE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                           Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) Jan Maddin
                                 Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                            ECM / Waterways / Rivers / Lakes / Canals / Dams / Foreshore

Attachments                      1.   Details of current monitoring activities in the Noosa Shire
                                 2.   Map of river catchments in the Noosa LGA
                                 3.   Noosa River’s Environment Values & Water Quality Objectives
                                      (40 pages - provided separately to this agenda – 2 hard copies are
                                      available in the Councillors Room)
                                 4.   Mary River Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives
                                      (37 pages - provided separately to this agenda – 2 hard copies are
                                      available in the Councillors Room)



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Waterways monitoring in the Noosa Shire provides support in meeting Council’s legislative
responsibilities. Under the Environment Protection Act 1994 and Sustainable Planning Act
2009, Council has the responsibility to protect the water quality of the Shire’s rivers, streams,
wetlands, lakes, aquifers, estuaries and coastal waters.

There are a number of waterways monitoring activities undertaken by Council, or on behalf
of Council, which contribute to the protection of the quality of natural waters in the Noosa
Shire. Although this occurs, population growth, changes in land use and industry
development across many sectors present ever increasing pressures affecting the resilience
of natural systems, particularly waterways.

Those pressures are outlined in this report together with some options for mitigation
measures, as well as emerging modelling technologies which can assist decision making
regarding future catchment management investment.

This report seeks to provide background and information about the current waterways
monitoring activities in the Noosa Shire, and to present future catchment management
recommendations which support healthy aquatic ecosystems and important human uses
such as drinking water, recreation, irrigation and aquaculture.


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) to the Planning
and Organisation Committee dated 2 February 2016 providing an overview of waterways
monitoring in the Noosa Shire.




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